For the Love of Books
Inside In-faux, Inspirations 1 Comment »In the midst of the classes I teach, I usually run into those students that would like to possibly consider this as a career. They ask me about how I started my business, the classes available, books to recommend and the like. I then really began thinking about what books I would recommend. Although a few popped into my head immediately (ouch, I just had a vision of having a rectangular head), I had to look through my library to find other gems. Just so you know, I collect interior design, pattern and faux finishing books like they are going out of style. Each and every book means a lot to me so the list below is not the be all that end all, but they are some of my favorites.
Making Money with your Creative Paint Finishes (Lynnette Harris) - This is the book I read when I had just begun my business. It was published in 1998 and still contains great information from marketing to supplies to planning to figuring out how much to charge. Fantastic.
The Complete Book of Paint (David Carter) This is one of the very first finish books that I bought and when I read through it, I wanted to pack my bags and move to London to beg this man for a job with his company. I was like “I could learn to speak the Queen’s English! I could learn to survive in another country!” Really, the only thing that kept me here was my love for my husband and family, LOL!
Decorative Style (Kevin McCloud) Great book with wonderful room vignettes that showcase color, finish, fabrics, furnishings. He breaks down his book by design styles (hence the title) and the photographs are wonderful.
Painted Illusions: Create Stunning Trompe L’oeil Effects with Stencils (Melanie Royals) In our industry, Melanie Royals is a Rock Star (yup, with capitals) and she deserves to be. She has written many books and has truly helpful DVDs and programs she’s not skimpy on the info. This book I like because it goes into creating perspective and creating illusions on different surfaces. But truly, pick up any of her books. You won’t be sorry.
Outdoor Painting Techniques & Faux Finishes (Marina Niven & Louise Hennigs) Finding this book was a great pleasure! It has cool techniques and inventive ideas. It touches on a subject not many decorative paint books do: exteriors. The instructions are easy to follow (washes, patinas, woods) and I absolutely love their location shots.
Italian Plaster Techniques (Maureen Soens) Although I follow my own plaster techniques, I suggest this book because it’s great for beginners. It includes many different texture recipes and good color suggestions (my favorite combination found on page 53. Yummy!).
The Perfect Palette: Fifty Inspired Color Plans for Painting Every Room in Your Home (Bonnie Rosser Krims) - I really like this book. It breaks down each three color scheme by decorative style (i.e., Colors of the Canyon, Autum Day, Provence) and it succeeds in helping to break out of that one-color beige scheme. It only provides paint colors by two manufacturers, but they can be matched if need be by any paint store.
Two books simply for eye candy are:
The Paris Apartment (Claudia Strasser) I love this style. So feminine and pretty and chic. It’s exactly what my apartment is going to look like when I move to Paris. (Right after I move to London and beg David Carter for a job!)
Where Women Create (Jo Packham) I picked up this book and realized it was a unique find! It profiles different women with creative businesses and shows you what their studios look like and how their space design came about. I think when I get around to decorating my new personal studio room, I will want elegant bubbles of color on the walls as if the floor was a giant square Alka Seltzer and the walls were made of water. I like that effervescent, ever-changing, bubbling with possibilities and vibrant colorations. Not for everyone, I know! Don’t let that dissuade you from looking into my book recommendations!!!
I hope we all have great reading in store for the next few weeks!
